A child is born...
The birth on Sunday of a new Duch princess who is second in line to the throne has visibly lifted the spirits of everyone here. We've had a pretty depressing year: the economy on the slide, budget cuts at Radio Netherlands, and our Royal Family have not had the best of years either. Until now. I'm not especially a royalist, but you have to say that an institution which is capable of producing so much collective joy can't be all bad, despite the picture that my friend and colleague Rob Greene likes to paint in his Insight commentaries.
The Dutch Royals have still retained some of the delightful informality that has gone out of so many Royal Families, especially the Windsors. So, today's newspapers were carrying photos of the baby princess - who, it has to be said, is as beautiful a baby as I have seen outside my own family - taken by Prince Willem-Alexander himself. None of your posing for formal pictures, this was a proud father who couldn't wait to show off his new daughter to the waiting nation.
As for the mother, Princess Máxima, despite initial concerns the Dutch people have quickly been won over by her charm, her lack of pomposity, and the way in which she has handled the difficulties surrounding the past of her Argentinian father, and of a Catholic girl adapting to marrying the future head of the House of Orange. The joy being expressed is as much for the Royal couple as individuals as for the longer term significance to the monarchy.
9:23:37 PM 
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